Chocolate is a favorite sweet treat all year round with Valentine’s Day being the biggest chocolate day of the year. This year Scottsdale’s Sphinx Date Company is offering a twist for your sweetheart with chocolate covered dates.
Cerreta Candy Company of Glendale will be dipping dates in dark chocolate, milk chocolate and Arizona grown pecan stuffed dates in each heart shaped box. Each box contains 10 dates which start at $25.95 and vary based on dips and stuffings.
If you prefer your chocolate with out dates Sphinx Date Company offers other selections of locally made chocolate and sweets from Zak’s Chocolate, NutWhats and Tracey Dempsey.
Enjoy your sweets with an Arizona produced wine or beer also available at the shop.
Sphinx Date Company is at 3039 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale 85251 (480)941-2261. For more information visit their website
Nothing says decadence and delight on a Friday night than chocolate and wine do and if both tickle your fancy the way it does mine then circle Friday January 27th on your calendar and get your tickets for the Chocolate and Wine Experience at The Saguaro Hotel in Scottsdale.
This tasty event is hosted by The Scottsdale League of the Art as it kicks off its 2017 fund-raising season by bringing together chocolate from local chocolate makers, gourmet cuisine and local wines and craft beers. Highlights of the evening include a s’mores station, a chocolate 101 teaching, chocolate martinis and a spiked hot chocolate bar.
Guests attending the Chocolate and wine Experience will taste samples of chocolate from Zak’s Chocolate, Nutwhats, XO confections and more. Food, wine and beer will be provided by EVO, Aioli’s Gourmet Burgers, Yancy Fancy Cheeses, Grand Canyon Brewing Company, Aridus Wine Company and others.
The Walken’s will be performing a wide range of classic cover tunes as guests meander through the night enjoying the festive atmosphere.
The money raised helps the non-profit Scottsdale League of the Arts support and promote the arts and arts education throughout the Phoenix area with several popular fundraisers a year including the Scottsdale Culinary Festival and The Friends of James Beard Benefit Dinner.
Pre-sale tickets are on sale for $60 and early admission for $75 with entry an hour earlier & a champagne welcome. Tickets at the door will be $70. All guest will enjoy un-limited tastes of food, 12 drink sample tickets and access to all activities. The doors open at 7pm for early guests and 8pm for general admission.
The Saguaro Scottsdale, 4000 N Drinkwater Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 and tickets can be purchased at http://www.scottsdalefest.org/
Cooking classes, dinners and tastings are just a few of the events scheduled for LDV Winery to keep locals and visitors busy through the end of 2016. Below is a list of scheduled events for LDV with most hosted at their Wine Gallery at 6951 E. 1st St. Scottsdale 85251.
Photo courtesy of LDV Wine Gallery
OCTOBER
LDV Sip & Learn Workshop – Candy Making and Wine
Sunday, October 9 from 4:00-6:00 PM
Just in time for Halloween! LDV Winery and NutWhats, local candy maker, present a candy making demonstration and discussion about wine pairings. $35.00 per person/$65 per couple (includes workshop materials, wine tasting, & nibbles).
Vineyard to Table Winemaker Dinner with Chef/Owner Chrysa Robertson, Rancho Pinot
Monday, October 10 from 6:00-8:00 PM
An intimate evening of great food paired with award-winning LDV Winery estate wines. Chef/Owner Chrysa Roberson and LDV Winemaker Curt Dunham create an incredible meal under the stars at LDV Wine Gallery. $95++ per person
Call the Wine Gallery at 480-664-4822 to prepay reservations; space limited.
Holiday Little Bites Cooking Class with John & Bev Hersey at LDV Winery
Saturday, October 15 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Astonish your friends this holiday season. Sip, learn, cook, and eat at this fun interactive class. Everyone will be in the holiday spirit at your get-together with “Holiday Little Bites” that are easy, healthy, and scrumptious. Every guest will be begging for your recipes! John is a graduate of Classic Cooking Academy and Beverly is former owner of the Aaron Conant House in Portsmouth, New Hampshire’s historic Strawberry Bank.
$55 per person. Registration required. Space limited.
Call the Wine Gallery at 480-664-4822 to reserve your place, space is limited.
Vineyard to Table Winemaker Dinner with Chef Justin Beckett, Beckett’s Table and Southern Rail
Tuesday, November 15 from 6:00-8:00 PM
An intimate evening of great food paired with award-winning LDV Winery estate wines. Chef/Owner Justin Beckett and LDV Winemaker Curt Dunham create an incredible meal served under the stars at LDV Wine Gallery. $95++ per person
Call the Wine Gallery at 480-664-4822 to prepay reservations; space limited.
LDV Sip & Learn Workshop – Cheese & Wine Pairing
Sunday, November 20 from 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Expand your palate by exploring the science behind the classic wine and cheese pairing. Wine brings out unexpected nuances in cheese, which enhances both aspects of this quintessential pairing. $35.00 per person/$65 per couple (includes workshop materials, wine tasting, & nibbles).
LDV Sip & Learn Workshop – All About Chocolate & Wine Pairing
Sunday, December 4 from 4:00 – 6:00 PM
What makes wine and chocolate the perfect confectionery match. The workshop will discuss and taste wine pairings with locally made artisan chocolates. $35.00 per person/$65 per couple (includes workshop materials, wine tasting, & nibbles).
Vineyard to Table Winemaker Dinner with Chef Mel Mecinas, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale
Monday, December 5 from 6:00-8:00 PM
An intimate evening of great food paired with award-winning LDV Winery estate wines. Chef Mel Mecinas and LDV Winemaker Curt Dunham create an incredible meal served under the stars at LDV Wine Gallery. $95++ per person
Call the Wine Gallery at 480-664-4822 to prepay reservations; space limited.
For more information on Lawrence Dunham Vineyards, visit www.LDVWinery.com.
Started back in 1999 by Lisa and Jim Rast, Nutwhats produces a line of sweet snacks that includes brittle called Britty & Scribble and the recently launched line of chocolates called “Bean to Bar” sourced from all over the world and are made from at least 75% Cacao. The beans are imported and the bars are made by hand in their commercial kitchen. “The Bean to Bar Chocolates are great for baking brownies, cookies or muffins and make incredibly decadent s’mores,” said Lisa Rast.
2 new brittle combinations are available too, Salted Almond Scribble and Green Chili Beer Britty if you need some spice in your life. In addition to being available online at www.nutwhats.com the sweets can now be found in AJ’s Fine Foods around the valley. The gourmet grocer will be selling 8 Nutwhats flavors including the 2 new flavors at $10.99 for the Salted Almond Scribble and $8.99 for Green Chili Beer Britty. “Our fans have asked us for years to expand our distribution and this partnership with AJ’s allows us to offer our hand-crafted products to more hungry Arizonans who are seeking an uncommon yet very satisfying treat,” said Rast.
In addidition to AJ’s, Nutwhats can be found at Bodega in Scottsdale, Phoenix Public Market and Smeeks in Phoenix and Doz Cabezas Wineworks in the southern Arizona wine country. The new Bean to Bar chocolates can be found at the Nutwhats booth at the Gilbert Farmers Market and Old Town Farmers Market in Scottsdale along with their other sweets.
